Safety device for railway locomotive boilers



March ZG, 1940. J, 5,BRQWN p 2,194,636

SAFETY DEVICE FbR RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Jan. :5, 19:59 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

J'o/im a'Br-omj 1 BQWWw March 26, 1940. J. G. BROWN 2,194,636

' SAFETY DEVICE FOR RAILWAYLOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Jan. 3, 19:59 2 Shets-Shget'Z Patented Mar. 26, 1940 SAFETY DEVICE ron. RAILWAY y LOCOMOTIVE BOILEltS,

John G. Brown, Butte, :Mont. Application January 3, 1939, swarm. 349,151 8 Claims. (01. 122-500 My invention relates to a safety device for the boilers of railway locomotives or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character,

, which will prevent a boiler explosion because of low water, and which is automatic in operation and independent of human agency.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for-cutting oil! the passage of steam through the main dry pipe, to any considerable extent thereby checking the draft of the locomotive, re-

ducing the intensity of the heat at the crown sheet, and checking further rapid evaporation of the water. l6 A further object of the invention is to provide means for applying the air brakes to stop the locomotive or train, when the water level in the boiler is sufilciently lowered. A further object of the invention is to provid v means for producing a signal to indicate the level or the water, andalso to provide a vent for indicating if the main valve is leaking, the .vent also permitting the return of the valve body of the valve connected in the main dry pipe.

Other objections and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this application, andin which like numerals are employed to designatelike parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a railway locomotive, parts broken away, showing my safety device in side elevation applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1, t

Figure 3 is a planview of the float and associated elements, l

Figure ,4 is a central vertical section through 4 the floatand main valve, associated elements being shownin elevation, i

Figure'5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55ofFigure 4,and, Flgure 6 is ahorizontal sectiontaken on line 8-6 of Figure 4; I

In the drawings, wherein for the Purpose of illustration-is shown a preferred embodimentioi my invention, the numeral l0 designates the boiler .of a" railway locomotive; The locomotive comprises the usual cab- I l and main dry pipe I2,

' which supplies steam to the operating cylinders,

under the control of the us'ualthrottlevalve; not shown. a

Arranged withinthe boiler'near and'above the firebox crown I3, is a vertical floatcprotection casing 14, open at its top and bottom, and attached tohorizontal bars orangle ironswli, in

' turn securedto the sides of theboilershell. The

protection casing is located in'the longitudinal and cross-sectional center of the boiler, to give, a

unseats the valveibody i 1A transverse." pipe! 3 tFigures-2 and nected with .thezpipe 'fl by "a T cbublingfli:" 'Ihe "transversepipef i38 leadstc theatmosphere ex 50 ."teriorly' ofthe :b'oiler shell andha's" ai -reduced L true level .of water under all conditions, at a s -pecifled height above the highest part of the firebox crown sheet. The location also reduces to the minimum the surging action'of the waiter, onthe float. Mounted within the protection casing ,6

is a float I6, preferable of the shapeis'how'n,

\ and having pins l1 rigidly securedfthereto and operating within vertical elongated slots" 18-, formed in the protection ,casingQlA. whilel I have shown four of the vertical slots 18, theirlo number may be varied, if "desiredgQRigidly attached to the top of thefioat 116 isfa" tubular extension l9, having anopening infitsitopto receive a connecting rod 20, provided at, its lower end with a head 2 II, The connectionjba 1 tween the extens'ion I Qpand thefrod"2qfisf'such that when the extension lfl isloweredit draws the rod 20 down with it, but whenthe extension I9 is raised, it moves along therod20 without moving such rod. Arranged near and above the protection casing I4 is a main valve 22, rigidly attached to the top 23 of the boiler sheli. The valve22 comprises a casing 24, having anopenfinletlor mouth 25,

in free communication with the, interior of the 25 boiler. The valve casing 2 4" hasanout1et con-' nected with'a pipe 26, andthe passage of steam to the pipe [26 is controlledby a vertically movable valvebody 21, arranged to engage or disenage itsseat f28.'[' 1'he valve body is in the form so of a rod-andxtends downwardlybelowfthe"casing and through a stationary supporting element 29, and is provided with'a shoulder30 for] engage- 'ment' with thejforke'd end of a lever 3 |-,"*p'ivoted to the supporting-element 29', at 32, The lever} I 35 The lower end o'f i;lie' rod or valve" body 21 "has a ball 34 formed thereon for engagementwithin seen that the weight 33 and associated elements l6 Uovercomes' the actio of: the boilerpressure, this pressure' closes' the check valve, but1whenthe valve body 21 isseated. c0 1 the valve 39" is open and then serves as a vent to the atmosphere, having a purpose to be described. Further, if a slight leakage of steam should occur through the valve 22, when the valve body 21 is seated, this leakage of steam would vent to the atmosphere through the pipe 38, indicating such leakage.

Connected in the main dry pipe I2 is a pressure actuated gate valve 40, separate from and independent of the usual throttle valve. This pressure operated valve includes a casing 4| having an extension 42. The passage of steam through the casing 4| may be prevented; by a reciprocatory valve body or" gate 43, to .engage seats 44 and 45, when closed. This valve body is connected with a rod 46, This rod operates through a stufling-box 41 carried by a-cylinder 48, and the cylinder is bolted or rigidly attached to the extension '42, as shown at 49. Mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder 48 is a plunger 50, rigidly attached to the rod 46, and the plunger is moved toward the outer end or head 5| of the cylinder 48 by a compressible coil spring 52. -The spring 52 retains the valve body 43 open when the valve body 21 is seated. The pipe 26 leads into the cylinder 48, near its outer end or head 5|, and the steam pressure is conducted by a port 53 into a recess or space'54, behind the plunger 50, to move the plunger inwardly to close or seat the valve body 43. The valve body 43 is provided with reduced opening or openings 55', which permit only sufiicient steam to pass to the operating cylinders through the main dry pipe to cushion the pistons therein, while drifting,

Leading into the cylinder 48 inwardly of and -spaced from the outer end or head 5! is a pipe 55, which beeomeslocated upon the outer side of the plunger 50 and uncovered by this plunger, when the plunger moves inwardly and the valve body or gate 43 is approaching its closed position. A T-coupling 58 is connected in the pipe 55 and is also attached to the boiler shell. A pipe 51 leads into the coupling'56 as connected, with a whistle 58, arranged near the cab II.

The pipe 55 is connected with a. cylinder 59, to be locatedat any convenient position upon the locomotive, and this cylinder has a plunger 60, mounted to reciprocate therein, and connected with a rod 6|. The plunger is returned to the starting position by a spring 62. The plunger rod 6| is connected with the arm 63 of a pressure reducing valve 64 connected in a pipe 65, leading to the air brake line. The valve 64 is adapted to make a sufiicient reduction of pressure in the air brake line to apply the brakes. The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

When the level of the water in the boiler is at a proper elevation, the weight 33 maintains the valve body 21 seated. Hence steam is not supplied to the cylinder 48 and the valve body43 re- ,mains open, and the control of the steam to the operating cylinders of the locomotive is regulated by the usual throttle valve. When the level of the water begins to lower in the boiler, the float l6 descends, and when the level reaches the selected or danger elevation, the float l8 unseats the valve body 21 and the steamfrom the boiler passes through the pipe 28 and into the outerend of the cylinder 48. This steam then shifts the valve body 43to the closed position, wh ch cuts ofi the supply of the major portion of the steam through the dry pipe to the operating cylinders. This cuts back the exhaust action in the smoke stack of the locomotivareducing the intensity of the heat from the fire. A small amount of steam will pass through the reduced openings 55', to afiord a cushioning action for the pistons, in drifting. When the plunger 50 moves inwardly it passes over and beyond the intake end of the pipe 55,'about or shortly before the time that the valve body 43 is seated, and the steam is therefore free to pass from the cylinder 48 into the pipe'55. This steam will now enter the cylinder 59 and shift the plunger 60, which will operate the pressure reducing valve 64, to apply.

position. Spring 62 will also return plunger 68 to its starting position. With the valve body 21 seated, should a leakage of steam occur, this will vent through the pipe 38, indicating the same.

The action of the apparatus may be tested at any time. When the boiler is under steam, the water may be blown down to the level at which the float l6 will unseat the valve body 27, thus closing the valve body 430i the valve in the dry pipe. When filling the boiler with water after a washout, air pressure will escape through the valve 24 and pipe 38 to the atmosphere, until the float again rises with the level of the water for closing the valve body 21. The vent pipe 38 will indicate if there is any leakage of steam about the valve body 21 when it is seated, as stated. Filling the boiler with air will test the valve 22 for the open position and the pressure devices including the cylinders 48 and 59 for the forward or active positions of their plungers.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A railway locomotive boiler including a shell, a dry pipe arranged within the shell and having communication with the interior of the shell to supply steam to the cylinders, a valve separate from the throttle valve and arranged within the shell and connected in the dry pipe and having a movable valve body, said valve body when closed serving to cut off the major supply, of steam to the cylinders for driving the pistons and permitting oi a slight passage of steam to the cylinders to produce a cushioning action for drifting, a pressure operated device arranged within the shell to close the valve body, and float actuated means arranged within the shell and including a float element to contact with the water therein and serving to actuate the pressure operating means.

2.-A railway locomotive boiler including a shell, a dry pipe arranged within the shell and having communication with the interior of the shell to supply steam to the cylinders, a valve separate from the throttle valve and arrangedwithin the shell and connectedin the dry pipe and including a valve body having restricted opening or openlngs, a pressure operated evice arranged within 2,194,eac

boiler to contact with the water therein, and connecting means between the float and the control valve so that the control valve is opened when the float descends to a selected position.

3. A railway locomotive boiler including a shell,

a dry pipe arranged within the shell and having communication with the interior of the shell to supply steam to the cylinders, a valve separate from the throttle valve and arranged within the shell and connected in the dry pipe, at pressure operated device arranged within the shell and connected with the valve to move it, a pipe arranged within the shell and connected with the pressure operated device, a control valve arranged within the shell and connected with the pipe and controlling communication between the pipe and the interior of the boiler, a float mounted within the shell and contacting with the water therein, and connecting means between the float and the control valve to open the control valve when the float descends to a selected elevation. 4. A railway locomotive boiler including a shell,

a dry pipe arranged within the shell and having interior of the shell, a

communication with the interior of the shell for supplying steam to the cylinders, a valve arranged'within the shell and connected in the dry pipe and embodying a valve body, said valve being separate from the throttle valve, a cylinder arranged within the shell and disposed near the valve, a plunger mounted within the cylinder, a. rod connecting the plunger and valve. body so that the movement of the plunger in one direction closes the valve body, a spring to move the plunger in an opposite direction to open the valve body, a pipe connected with the cylinder, a control valve connected with the pipe and controlling communication between the pipe and the float within the boiler to contact with the water therein, and connecting means between the float and control valve so that the float opens the control valve when the float descends to a selected elevation.

5. A railway locomotive ,boiler including a shell, a dry pipe arranged within the shell and having communication with the interior thereof for supplying steam to the cylinders, a valve arranged within the shell and connected in the dry pipe and including a valve body, a cylinder arranged within the shell and disposed near the valve, a plunger within the cylinder, a rod conmating the plunger with the valve body so that the movement of the plunger in one direction will close the valve body, a spring to move the plunger in an opposite direction, a pipe connected with the cylinder, and having its intake end adapted for communication with the interior of the shell, means including a float arranged within the shell and actuated by the level of the water in the boiler for controlling the passage of pressure into the pipe, and pressure operated means for applying the air bra es and receiving pressure from the cylinder when the plunger has moved in the cylinder a selected distance for closing the valve body.

6. A railway locomotive boiler including a shell, a dry pipe arranged with the shell and having communication with the interior thereof to supply steam to the cylinders, a valve arran edbrakes, a

' check valve connected in the vent pipe, check valve closing toward the outlet-endof the for supplying steam within the shell and connected in the dry pipe and including a valve body, a cylinder arranged within the shell and mounted upon the valve, a plunger within the cylinder, a rod connecting the plunger and valve body, a pipe arranged within the shell and leading into the cylinder near its outer end to supply fluid pressure into the cylinder for shifting the plunger inwardly to close the valve body, said pipe being adapted to be placed into communication with the interior of the shell, a spring to move the plunger in an opposite direction, a control valve connected with the pipe and controlling communication between the pipe and the interior of the boiler, means including a float arranged within the shell and actuated by the level of the water in the boiler to open the control valve, a pressure operated device for applying the air brakes, and a pipe connected with the pressure operated device and leading into the cylinder at a point inwardly of the plunger when the plunger is in the outer posi-' ing a valve body, said valve body having restricted opening or openings, a cylinder, a plunger within the cylinder, ,a rod connecting the plunger and valve body, a pipe leading into the cylinder near its outer end to supply fluid pressure into the cylinder for shifting the plunger inwardly to close the valve body, a spring to move the plunger in an opposite direction, a control valve connected with the pipe and controlling communication between the pipe and the interior of the boiler, float controlled means actuatedby the level of the water in the boiler to open the control valve, a pressure operated device for applying the air pipe connected with'the pressure operated device and leading into the cylinder at a point inwardly of the plunger when the plunger is in the outer position, a vent pipe connected with the first named pipe, and a self-opening he vent pipe, the check valve being closed by the boiler pressure passing into the vent pipe, and the check valve opening when the control valve is-closed to drain the pressure from the cylinder to the atmosphere.

8. A railway locomotive boiler including a shell, a dry pipe arranged within the shell and having communication to the cylinders. an upstanding protection casing arranged within the shell at its longitudinal and transverse centers, said casing being open at the top and, bottom and having vertical slots, a float arranged within the protection casing and having pins to engage within the vertical slots for preventing displacement of the float by the surging of the water, a valve connected with the float to be opened by the same, a second valve separate from the throttle valve and arranged within the shell and connected in the dry pipe and'including a valve body, a cylinder arranged within the shell near the second valve, a plunger within the cylinder, a rod connecting the plunger and valve body, and

- a pipe connected with the J first valve and with with the interior of the shell 

